Lorain High School to focus on each freshman

So Lorain High School principals plan to gather about 580 students from three middle schools into a new freshman concept Aug. 23.

“We’re going to team our freshmen next year,” said Lorain City Schools Superintendent Dr. Jeff Graham at the administration building at 2601 Pole Ave. in Lorain. “We’re assigning two assistant principals to the freshman class. And it’s not for punitive reasons. It’s all about building relationships.

“A predictor of success in high school when looking at all predictors is how they do as freshmen. What we want to do is make the building smaller for them in terms of the physical space and community. We want to make sure they’re known.

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“What we’re doing is teaming it at the high school level and giving them time to acclimate and adjust to high school,” Graham said.

All of the core freshman classes will be on the third floor of building B, the classroom wing of the new Lorain High School, he said.

Mic Becerra, assistant superintendent of Lorain Schools, said the concept of teaming comes from middle school.

“It’s to make sure students feel they’re belonging, and they don’t fall through the cracks,” Becerra said. “Rarely do you see it at the high school.”

In a high school with 2,200 students, Graham said, youth who are struggling can feel alone, or lost.

Lorain High School Principal Robin Hopkins and her team are developing activities and incentives to build a positive school climate, he said.

“The district is committed to this,” Graham said. “We committed an additional freshman principal. It’s not for discipline. It’s for building relationships.”

Becerra said the district is following advice of the National Dropout Prevention Center from Clemson University which spotlighted the freshman year as pivotal, determining if a student will fail or succeed.

“When freshmen transition to high school, they’re being treated as an adult,” Becerra said. “Kids don’t always step up to that. But when kids don’t do what they’re supposed to do and they stop doing homework and studying, they dig a hole for themselves.

“And dropping out isn’t just a high school concern; it’s a community concern. Commencement is an economic boost to the community.”

“They’re excited about teaming together as co-assistant principals,” he said. “The freshman year is a new start. We want to make sure their new start is the best start they can have. I think we’re onto something. I really do.”

The teachers also asked to be assigned to the freshmen, Becerra said.

Graham said the focus on freshman fits into a larger school district model of change.

“One of the things we need to work on is transitions,” he said. “The whole goal is to personalize education.

“We need to get to know who they are. We always try to take care of the needs of kids.”